Trials & Litigation

Massage Parlor Mistrial Declared After Masseuse Recognizes Defense Lawyer as Client

  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print

A Chicago federal judge declared a mistrial last week in a sex-trafficking prosecution after a masseuse who worked for the defendant and testified for the prosecution recognized the defense lawyer as a client.

After stepping down from the stand, masseuse Liudmyla Ksenych told prosecutors she recognized defense lawyer Douglas Rathe, report the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune.

The revelation prompted U.S. District Court Judge Robert Gettleman to declare a mistrial in the case against a massage parlor owner accused of threatening immigrant women to extort money and force them to into sex trafficking.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur said in a court hearing there is no indication that Rathe asked for any extras during his massages, the Sun-Times says. Rathe told the newspaper there was no sex.

But he did admit in the court hearing that he “got too friendly” with Ksenych, who had a bachelor’s degree in law from the Ukraine, the stories say. “I liked her a lot,” he testified. “She was a nice person. And I gave her a bottle of perfume. Stupid thing to do when you are married, but I did it. … I met her at least four times. … But I did send—we did exchange emails.”

MacArthur said Rathe didn’t recognize Ksenych’s name on the witness list because she did not use her real name on the job.

Give us feedback, share a story tip or update, or report an error.